Poration



E. A. cuNNlFF LOOM Filed Sept. 23, '1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORA/EY May 19, 1925.

E.- A. CUNNIFF LOOM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m a. f M n c 5 Filed Sept. 23, 1924 ATTORNEY Patented May 19, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. n'

EDWARD A. CUNNIFF, OF WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAIER COR- y i PORATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, VA CORPORATION OF MAINE.

LOOM.

Application filed `September 23, 1924. Serial No. 739,327.

To all whom t may concern.:

Be itknown that I, EDWARD A. CUNNIKFF, a citizen of the United States., residing at lValtham, county of Middlesex and State y of Massachusetts, have invented an Imf.

proveinent in Looms, ofy which the following' description, in connection with the accompanyin'g` drawings, is a specification, like characters on the dra-wings representing),` like parts.

This invention relates `to looms, and more particularly to harness controllingmechanism. t y l In the production of certain characters of novelty clot-h it is desirable to weave a portion ofthe cloth with a pick of filling in each shed, and at intervals to weave the cloth with a plurality of picks of filling in a single shed, the llin'g in each instance. however, being beaten Aup by the-lay. The novelty cloth thus produced willhave zones of plain or similar weave separated at in# tervals by zones wherein a plurality of the filling iscontained in each shed, thereby producing; a striped effect.

In accordance with the present invention i the warp threadsv are manipnlatedfby at least two harnesses which are operated by means for the production of sheds for 7the filling, and at intervals the shed forming movement of thel harnesses `is interrupted with the shed open,.whereby the plurality of picks of filling` may be placed `in the single shed. Durinpgthe introduction of the plurality of picks of filling' into the single kopen shed it is desirable that the fillingr threads shall be bound atthe opposite edges of the cloth for the production of selvages, `and another important feature of the present invention therefore consists in a -selvaoe ,forming mechanism operable during` the introduction of the plurality of picks of filling in the open shed to bind or-form a selvage with such filling threads. s

More specifically stated, the present invention contemplates that the harnesses of a pair shall be alternately raised and lowered for the production of single sheds and that at intervalsmeans shall operate automatically to interrupt the operation of the harnesses with the shed open and on coinpletion of the desired number of lling threads into the open shed that theharness controlling mechanism shall effect the oper ative condition `of the harnesses;4

pair of harnesses; Fig. 2 is an edge view of the novelty cloth l that is produced by the present invention;

,usual train of take-upy mechanism 5.

While the inventionl will be hereinafter described in connection with a single pair of harnesses, the advantages of the invention may be utilized in connection withmore l than a t single pair.

The invention, new combination of parts and novel' features will best be made 'clear from the following ldescription and the accompanying drawings of one good practical form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. lis a perspectivel view looking from the front and side of the loomand show.-

ing the invention associated with a single Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the loom,v some of the parts being1 shown in section and Fig. a is an enlarged detail 'showing` the harness controlling look.

The loom with' which the present invention is associated is provided with the usual i warp beam, take-up mechanism, lay, and

pick mechanism, all of `which operatev as usual in sequence in the production of cloth, and associated with such parts are' the. features of the present invention.'

The loom framel may be of usual `construction, and at the rear portion thereof has y a support 2 for a warp beam E. The warp threads t pass from the warp beam over the whip roll 4 which may be of usual conv struction and thence the warp threadsv passl frontwardly through the harnesses, the dents of the reed to the fell ofthe cloth. and the cloth las it is woven `is taken up by the Since the take-up mechanism may be of any lusual construction, it is 'not herein specifically L? shown and described',` the condition being* such that on each cycle of cloth production,

Ut) i the cloth will be taken up by the take-up l mechanism. l i Pivotally mounted at vthe `lower portion of the loom frame at 6 are the lay swords 7 carrying the usual lay 8 and reed 9, Fig. 3,

as shown, and the lay is given itsbeat-up movement through the pitman l0 deriving its movement from the crank shaft l1. On each cycle of loom operation, as, for instance, when the lay is in its back or nearlyback position, las shown, the lling thread `isintroducedto the shed and, in the present insta-nce, such introduction ofthe filling ico i thread is effected by means of a single shuttle 12 which may be picked 'through the shed as usual.

Between the whip roll 4 and the lay'S are two harnesses 13 and 14, each of which comprises a frame carrying heddles, such as 15, for raising and lowering the warp threads in the formation of the she-ds. The two harnesses 13 and 14 are joined together by harness connectors 16. herein shown' as straps, which pass over and may besecuredto the rocker 17 vpreferably formed as a'shaft supported at each end in bearings lextending from the loom arcl119. The Connectors 16 are preferably secured to the rocker or rock shaft 17, as at 20, so that upon the operation of the harnesses in the formationof a shed, the rocker or rock shaft will be `given a rocking movement. v

One of the harnesses is connected to a harness operatingl means and, as shown, such means consists of a treadle or lever'21 pivotally mounted at 22 at the yrear of the loom, and having' a strap or connection 23 extending to a yoke 24 which is itself connected toy the harness 14 bv the links 25.

The other harness 13 of the pair normally quently raise the. associated harness 13, the

construction being suchv that upon rotation of the under or cam shaft, when the parts are free to operate, the two harnesses 13 and 14 will be :alternately raised and :lowered during each cycle of loo-m operation in the formation of sheds for the introduction of a weft or filling thread, it being understood that during; the cycles of loom operation the under or cani shaft, the lay, the picking),` mechanism and the take-up mechanism continue to function. v

Secured to the rocker or rock shaft 17 for rocking movement therewitlris the arm having a turned end portion 31 andduring the operation'of the rocler or rock shaft 17 the arm 30 swings through its arc of movement defined by the amplitude o-f rocking movement vof the rocker orl rock shaft.

Mounted uponthe loom frame, asshown, preferably secured to the loom arch `are two bearings 32, in which is rotatively mounted i the controller shaft 33. which hasav worm gear 34 secured thereto land .driven by a worm 35 on a shaft 36, Fig'. 1, which may be driven from the under or cam shaft 27. In the present instance the shaft y36 is sup- .ported in a bearing 37 extending `from one ofthe uprights38 which constitutes a sup- .port for the loom arch, and'atits lower end "thel shaft vcarriesa bevelled :gear 39 which.`

is operatively ,connected to a similarly7 bevelled gear 401m the under or 'cam shaft 27, the construction being such that durin(r the rotation of the under or cam shaft 27 l'thecontroller yshaft `33 will continue lto operate or rotate, although at a somewhat slower speed.

The controller shaft 33 has connected `thereto a controller ,for controlling the periods of activity and inactivity of the' harnesses. In the present instance the controller comprises a rotating member 41secured tothe controllersha'ft 33 and carrying la controlling` member 42, which, as Athe sconlock the lever 21 :in its lowered .positionwfor a period of time with the yshed open. The lduration of the-open shed will therefore depend upon the extentof ,the surface ofthe controller member42, and by varying the width of such controller member theperiods of inactivity of lthe Aharnesses may bemade longer orshorter, as desired, for the introduction of any ,predetermined number of weft or filling threadsinto the open shed. One convenient way of varying the, duration .of the open shed and perforce vary the number ofweft or filling' threads introduced ktherein is ytoy form the controller member 42 as a detachable element which may be detachably secu-red tok the controller 41 by means, such, as one or more bolts43. i 1

By makingl the worm gear 34 interchangeable or of different sizes,1 the speed of the rotation of the controller shaft 33 maybe varied, thereby varying the extent of the plain portions woven ,into the cloth. In other words, should the shaft 33 be rotated at a predetermined speed, the harnesses kwill continue to form successive single sheds for the successive `introduction of single `picks of filling, until 'the controller member 'interrupts the operationrof the harness4 operating mechanism, and should the shaft 33 lbe rotated at a different speed, the number of single picks of 'filling successively introduced into the successive 'sheds :will of course vary. Consequently the cloth may have anypredetermined number of plain woven portions separated by any ypredetermined number of filling' threads vplaced in the `open shed and yconsequently 'the lcloth will vhave different striped effects. l

Theppresent invention contemplates that whenthe shed is toremain open for theinsertion of aplurali'ty 'of successive picks 'of filling in thesame shed, the harness operat` ing mechanism shallbe locked, and to this endthere is mounted near the under portion of the loom, preferably on the supporting floor or a member secured to the loom frame, a bracket 44 Aon which is pivotally mountd 'at 45 a locking arm 46, the end portion 47 of which is adapted to` project above a plate'48 secured to the lever 21, in order to lock the lever 21 in its downward or in the open shed position. Secured tothe locking arm 46 is a finger 49 normally under Vthe infiuence ofa spring 50 tending to throw the locking lever"46 into its locking position. Also secured to the finger 49 at 51 `is a strap or like connection 52 which extends upwardly to and about a projection or cam 53 secured to the rocker or rock shaft 17, the construction being such that when the finger is held bythe controller member 42 from oscillating, lthe rocker or rock shaft 17 will likewise be interrupted in its movements and the connection 52 will be slackened so that the spring may act to throw the locking end 47 ofY the locking member` 46 into locking engagement with the lever 21, and the parts will remain in `this position with the shed open so long as the controller member 42 acts upon the end 31 `of thel arm 30. When, however',gthe controlling member 42 is moved past theend 31 ofthe arm 30, the latter will be free,

with the result that. the springs`26 acting through the harness 13 will turn the rocker or shaft 17 sufficiently to draw upward on the" connection 52 and disengage the lock from the lever'21, whereupon the harnesses will be operated alternately throughl the lever 21 and the springs ,26 in the formation of successive sheds for single shotsoftilling.

During the continuanceV of the open shed for the introduction of a plurality of picks "of filling, lthe present invention provides that a selvage may be formed atrthe edgesof the cloth, since otherwise the picks of filling might not remain in their proper location atithe selvage line.

In the present finstance, ya selvage heddle 54 is located lat each side of the cloth and has an eye 55 through which passes one of the warp threads, as at the-edge `ofthe cloth. The heddle 54 is normally depressed by a spring 56, one end of which is connected to the heddle 54 at 57 and the other end to a fixed point, as at 58.v l Extending up wardly from each of the heddles 54 is a strap 59 which passes over a loose pulley 60 mountedon ya bracket 61 secured to the loom arch at each side of the loom. `From the pulley 60 the strap 59 passes downwardly and is secured at 62 to an arm 63 which may be appropriately raised andloweredby means of a caml 64 on the under or cam shaft 27. In the present instancethe armv 63 is shown as secured tothe (shoe 65 ofthe cam follower 66, and the spring 67 Anormally acts through the arm 63`to` hold the shoe of the cam follower on its actuating cam 64.

be understood that this, or a similar mech` anism, is to be employed at the opposite side of the loom for operatingy the selvage threads i5 to engagethe loo-p of filling at each side of t-he loom to form the cloth selvage. V 1Ak v A Y The novelty cloth shown by Fig. 2 comprises sections 68 of lthe plain wovencloth, wherein a single pick of filling is contained in each shed, and other sections 69, wherein the shed has a plurality of picks offilling a which form a contrasting appearance and produce a striped or noveltyl eff`ect.'x`

As hereinbefore pointed out, thefnumber of picks offfilling in the sections 68 may be varied by `change or variation in the worm gear 34, and the number of picks of filling in a single shed, as at 69', may be varied by changing the size or contour of the controlling'member 42. f i i During weaving with the successiveshed formations on recurring cycles of loom `operation, the single .shuttle preferably employed to lay the filling' fin 'theshed, will introduce a single pick of filling. When they ,controller 41 brings the controller member y42 in operative relation with the rocker armBO', the operation ofthe harness operating mechanism will besuspended `with the shed open and the leverl 21 depressed, and thepa'rts will beheld in this positionby the lock forthe introduction of a plurality of picks of filling in the open shed.4 Dur-` ing this. time the other parts of the loo-my continue in operation and each fillingthread as itis introducedinto the shed is moved frontwardly 'or' beaten up, both in the single and open shed, and whenthe desired numbero-f picks of filling have been introduced in the continuously open shed and Vtied at the cloth edges toform a selvage, the controller member 42'will pass outof engagement with the rocker arm 30; and the loom will continue to run pick and pickfun'- til the controller member 42 again engages therocker armtosuspend the harness move-v ments with the shed open.v

What is claimed is:

1. In a loom for weaving novelty cloth, the

. combination'` ofthe harnesses for controlling the warp threads, ineansfor operating the harnesses in forming the shed, lockingv means for automatically locking the harness operating means at intervals `with the shed open `while the loom continues to run for the introduction of a plurality ofpicks of filling in the same shed, automaticallyacting locky 'trippingmeans to tripthe lock at in`` tervals, andselvage forming means for producing'a selvagealongthe edge of the cloth during vthe introduction of a plurality of picks of filling in the open shed.

2. In a loom of the characterdescribed, the combination of the harnesses, means for operating ythe harnesses in the formation. of the shed, means for introducing a pick of filling in the shed, a lock for locking the harness operatingy means at intervals With the shed open for the introduction of a succession of picks of filling-in the sameshed, a trip for tripping the lock after a pre determined number of vpicks have been laid in the open shed, and means for forming a selvage during the introduction of the plurality of picks of filling in the open shed.

3. In a loom, the combination of thevharnesses for controlling. the Warp threads in the shed formation, means for operating the harnesses, `a lock for lockingrthe har ness operating means with the shed open during the ,introduction of a plurality of picks of filling in the same shed, the lay for beating up the successivepicks of filling, and means for tripping the llock at .intervals foi` the formation ofsuccessive sheds and the introduction of picks of filling in each shed.

4. In a loom,l the combination of the harnesses for controlling the Warp threads in the formation of the'shed, a single shuttle for introducing successive picksof filling, the .lay for beating up the successive vpicks of filling, and means for `automatically locking the harnesses in position with the shed open at Yintervals .for the introduction ofa plurality of picks of filling in the same `shed and then freeing the harnesses for the .formation of successive sheds for the introduction of single picks of filling for each shed.

5. v In a loom, the combina-tion of the harnesses for controllingsthe Warp threads in the -formationiof the shed, a single shuttle for introducing successive picks of filling, the lay for beating up the successive picks of lilling, means for automaticallylocking the `harnesses in position With -the shed open at intervals for the introducton of a pluralty of :picks ofr filling in the `same shed and then freeing the harnesses for the formation ofsuccessive sheds for the introduction of single picks `of filling for each shed, and means for varying the intervals of operating the locking: means.

6. In a loom, the combination of the harnesses for controlling the Warp threads `in the formation of the shed,a single shuttle for introducing successive picks of filling, the lay for beating up the successive picksxof filling, means for automatically locking the harnesses in position with the shed open at intervals for the introduction of a plurality of picks of filling in the same .shed and then freeing the/harnesses for the formation of fsucoesvsivefsheds v[for .the in tr.od1 1ction of single picks of filling for eachshed, and means for forming a selvage during the continuance of the open shed and introduction of successive Lpicks of filling in the same shed. f y

7. Ina loom,the combination o'ftwo harnesses for controlling the formation of the shed, a connection between the two harnesses, a camactuated lever for operating the tWo harnesses, alock for lockingthe leverto suspend the successive shed formationsewith the shed open for the introduction of a4 plurality of icks of illingpin the same open shed, an means for automatically controlling the lock during the operation of. the loom. p

8. In a loom, the combination of tivo connected harnesses `for forming the shed, a cam actuated lever for operating the harnesses, la ,lock for suspending the operation of the lever with thewshed open, and a controller for automatically operating the lock at intervals` that the harnesses may form successive e sheds vfor the introduction of a pick of filling and then maintain the shed open` at intervals for theintroduction Aof av pluralit ofpicks in the same open shed.

9. In a loom, the combination of two-con-` nected harnesses for .formingthe shed, a cam actuated lever for operating the harnesses, a .lock for suspending the operationv of fthe leverk With the shed open, a controller for automatically operating the lock at intervals ythat the harnesses may form successive sheds for theintroduction of a pick of `filling andjthen maintain the shed open at intervals for the introduction of a plurality of picks fin the vsame open shed, yand means for forming a selvage during the introduction of the plurality of'picks yin the open shed.

` 10. In a loom, the combination of the harnesses, a cam actuated lever for operating the harnesses inthe formation of the shed, a lock forksaid lever to suspend the yoperation ,of the harnesses at intervals vwith the shed open, and a controller forautomaticallycausing the lock to suspend the operation o f said lever4 for a lpredetermined interval and then free the lever -that an open shedmay be .maintained for aan interval during the =loom operation for the introduction of a plurality of picks in :the same open shed.k l

ll. In a loom, lthe combination ofthe harnesses, a rcam yactuated `lever for operating the harnesses in the formation of thel shed, a lock for said lever to `suspend the operation of theharnesses at intervals with the shed o,pen,'a controller for automatically causing the lock to suspendthe operation of said lever for a predetermined interval and then free the lever that an open shed may be maintained for anlinterval duringthe loongroneraton for therntroducton of .a

plurality of picks in the same open shed,

and means for varying the periods of duration of the open shed. n

12. In a loom, the combination of two harnesses, harness connectors between them,

ment of the rock shaft at intervals to cause the lock to suspend the harness movements with the shed open for the introduction ot' a plurality of picks inthe same shed.

y13. In a loom, the combination of two harnesses, harness connectors between them,

a cam actuated lever for operating the harnesses, a rock shaft actuated by kmovement of the harnesses in forming the shed, a lock for suspending the shed forming movement of the harnesses, means associated with the rock shaft and connected to the lock, a controller for interrupting the movement of the rock shaft at intervals to cause the lock to suspend the harness movements with the shed open for theA introduction of a` pluralityof picks in thef same shed, and` means for varying the duration 'of the open shed.

14. In a loom, the combination of two harnesses, connectors between thetwo harnesses, a cam actuated lever connected to one `name to this of the harnesses, springs connected to the other harness, an overhead rocker about which the harness connectors pass, a lock for holding the cam actuated lever inoperative or a plurality of picks with the shed open, anda lock controller` acting `through the overhead rocker for automatically rendering the lock operative at intervals during weaving.'` A i 15. In a loom, the combination of a rocker, harnesses connected .tothe rocker for movement in opposite directions, means for operating the harnesses, a rocker controller for suspendingtthe vrocking movement of the rocker at intervals with the shed open lor a plurality of picks, and a lock rendered el'ective through the rocker for interrupting ei'ective operation of the harness operating means.

16. In a loom, the combination of a rocker, harnesses connected to the rocker for move ment in opposite directions, means forv operating the harnesses, a rocker controller for suspending the rocking movement of the rocker at intervalswith the shed 'open` for a plurality of picks, a lock rendered effective through the rocker for4 interrupting el'ective operationof the harness operating means, and means for varying the duration of the inoperative condition of the harness.

operating means.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my specification. EDWARD A. CUNNIFF. 

